ANGELA'S ARTISTIC BLOG
Insights, self-help, inspiration, tips and encouragement.
Angela has moved forward in a fresh new direction and is excited to share it with you!
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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Know how to keep your customers happy? While there are many things you can do, here are "Best tips for happy customers" picks by Becca Souder, customer service extraordinaire! These work especially well in a brick and mortar shop but most can be adapted to online shops as well.

1. SMILE! Keep your attitude light and upbeat. This will make the customer feel the same way. *For online shops, this means keeping responses to emails positive and upbeat.

2.
Kill them with kindness. Even with the rudest and unruly customers try
to be as nice as you can. (This will cover you and piss them off at the
same time!)

3. Be as helpful as you can. If someone has a question and you don't
know the answer, do what you can to find an answer. Customers
appreciate you going out of your way to help them.

4. (For serving
jobs) Stay attentive. People like to know that you are around if they
need something. Don't smother them, but make eye contact every once in a
while. *For online businesses, be available for questions and respond quickly.

5. Try to make a connection with your customers. This is the best way to
get repeat business no matter what type of business you're in.

6.
If you do have repeat customers, make note of that and try to remember
their regular beverage, food item, interest or style (depending on what
type of business)

7. Always thank your customer for coming in and wish them a great day or evening. *Etsians are great for adding thank you notes & goodies in their orders.

8.
Customer service can sometimes be equivalent to acting. Even if you are
having an awful day or have an awful customer, you're getting paid to
help them. So keep it together and be the solution, not the problem.

9. * NEVER gripe in front of the customers. It just makes you look unprofessional.

Please be reminded that you cannot
make everyone happy. Some people are just rude, but try to keep a smile
on your face and diffuse any messy situations instead of adding fuel to
the fire.

Be the type of person you want to be helped by :)

Thanks to Becca Souder for her tips. Becca has @ 10 years in the customer service realm and manages to keep a smile on her face even when it almost kills her!

Friday, August 17, 2012

Being a manager comes naturally to some; for others it's a learned experience. Perhaps you've gotten to the stage in your home-based business where you need to hire help; these tips are a great place to start being a manager others will want to work for!

Secrets to being a good manager and getting the best from your staff:

1.
The attitude that you come in with will set the mood and tone for your
whole staff. Keep it positive, even if there is something personal going on. Your
staff doesn't need to see you sweat.

2. Be clear, direct and concise. Let your staff know exactly you need from them. Don't assume they will know what you are thinking. If someone has a question, don't
scare them off making them feel like they should already know the
answer. It is better for someone to ask (what you may think is a stupid
question) than to do it wrong, causing you more stress and them to feel
bad.

3. Work alongside your staff. You're more likely to get the most from
your staff if you show them that you aren't afraid to get your hands
dirty. It's also the best way to be around your employee's and let them
know that you aren't neglecting them.

4. Don't be afraid of your staff. If someone is doing something wrong or doing something that is against the rules or policy, it is extremely
important that you let that staff member know (in private) specifically what it is they are doing that needs correcting. Then, gently but firmly, tell that what the consequences will be if it happens again. This will either motivate them to get it
together or push them to quit (which wouldn't be a big loss if they are
breaking rules).

5. Most importantly, try to be the manager that you would want to work
with. I doubt anyone would chose to work for a cranky, angry, negative
or lazy manager. So be the person that you would work for!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

I am honored to have recently been awarded the Liebster Award! Thank
you to Priscilla Wiggins of Kiki Closet on Etsy. Here is the link to
her blog: http://kikisadventuresincreating.blogspot.com/Now here's where I need your help! Do you have a blog
with less than 200 followers? First follow my blog. Then email me your blog link at
angelasartisticdesigns@gmail.com. I will check out your blogs and let you
know if you are chosen for the Liebster Award!

'Liebster' means 'favorite' or 'dearest' in German. This award, which originated in Germany, recognizes up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers.

Choosing 5 blogs is no easy challenge with all of the
great blogs out there! But I am up to the task, therefore, I hereby
accept the Liebster Award!

In accepting the award, the recipient agrees to:

Thank the person that gave the award and link back to their blog.

Copy and paste the award to your blog

Reveal the 5 blogs you have chosen to award and let them know by commenting on their blog.

Hope they pay it forward by accepting and awarding it to bloggers they would like to honor.

Here are 4of my picks. Please stop by and visit and support them! I just need ONE more! Who will it be???

'Liebster' means 'favorite' or 'dearest' in German. This award, which originated in Germany, recognizes up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers.

Choosing 5 blogs is no easy challenge with all of the great blogs out there! But I am up to the task, therefore, I hereby accept the Liebster Award!

Now here's where I need your help! Do you have a blog
with less than 200 followers? First follow my blog. Then email me your blog link at
angelasartisticdesigns@gmail.com. I will review your blogs and let you
know if you are chosen for the Liebster Award!

In accepting the award, the recipient agrees to:

Thank the person that gave the award and link back to their blog.

Copy and paste the award to your blog

Reveal the 5 blogs you have chosen to award and let them know by commenting on their blog.

Hope they pay it forward by accepting and awarding it to bloggers they would like to honor.

The first blog that I will begin with is:

A terrific resource for parents who want to thoughtfully raise their children: